Tipping on takeout orders has become a hot topic. You might wonder if you should leave a tip when picking up food to go. The answer isn’t always clear-cut.
Most experts suggest tipping 5-10% for takeout orders. This is less than the 18-20% you’d typically give for dine-in service. Why tip at all? Restaurant staff still put effort into preparing and packaging your meal, even if you’re not eating in.
Some people tip more to support local businesses and workers, especially during tough times. Others feel tipping isn’t needed for takeout. It’s up to you to decide what feels right based on the service and your budget.
History of Tipping Practices
Tipping has a long and complex past. It started in Europe and later spread to America, where it became a big part of dining out.
Origins of Tipping
Tipping began in Europe in the 1500s. Rich people gave extra money to servants as a “thank you” for good work. This practice slowly moved to restaurants and hotels.
In the 1800s, Americans visiting Europe picked up the habit. They brought it back home to show they were worldly and well-traveled.
At first, many Americans didn’t like tipping. They saw it as undemocratic and against American values of equality.
Evolution of Tipping in the Restaurant Industry
Tipping took hold in American restaurants after the Civil War. Restaurant owners liked it because they could pay workers less.
In the early 1900s, some states tried to ban tipping. These laws didn’t last long.
The Great Depression made tipping more common. Struggling workers needed the extra money to survive.
By the 1950s, tipping was a normal part of eating out in America. Laws were made to protect tipped workers’ wages.
Today, tipping is expected in most U.S. restaurants. But the debate about its fairness continues.
Current Tipping Etiquette
Tipping practices vary between dine-in and takeout services. The expected tip amounts differ based on the level of service provided and the effort involved in preparing your order.
Guidelines for Dine-In Services
When eating at a restaurant, the standard tip is 18-20% of your bill. This rewards servers for their attentive care throughout your meal. They take your order, bring food and drinks, and make sure you’re happy.
For exceptional service, you might tip more than 20%. If service is poor, 15% is still expected. Remember, servers often share tips with other staff like bussers and hosts.
Some restaurants add an automatic gratuity for large groups. Check your bill to avoid double-tipping.
Expectations for Takeout Orders
Tipping for takeout is less clear-cut. Many people tip 5-10% for pickup orders. This shows appreciation for the staff who package your food and ensure your order is correct.
During tough times, some customers tip more generously to support local businesses. Even a small tip helps workers who prepare takeout orders.
If you’re getting curbside pickup or the staff goes above and beyond, consider tipping closer to 15%. For simple counter pickups, a dollar or two is a nice gesture.
Remember, tipping is optional for takeout but always appreciated by hardworking restaurant staff.
Arguments for Tipping on Takeout
Tipping on takeout orders can benefit both restaurant staff and customers. It shows appreciation for behind-the-scenes work and helps support food service workers.
Supporting Service Staff
Takeout orders need effort from kitchen and counter staff. They pack your food, check for accuracy, and get it ready fast. These workers often earn low base wages.
Tips can boost their income. Even small tips add up over many orders. This extra money helps staff cover living costs.
Some restaurants share takeout tips among all workers. This includes cooks who don’t usually get tips. Tipping on takeout spreads the benefits to more people.
Rewarding Promptness and Care
Good takeout service takes skill. Staff must pack hot and cold items separately. They make sure sauces don’t spill and food stays fresh.
Quick service matters for takeout too. You want your food ready when you arrive. Tipping rewards staff who work hard to meet pickup times.
Careful packaging protects your meal. It keeps food at the right temperature. Staff who take extra care deserve recognition. Your tip shows you notice their effort.
Encouraging Business Growth
Tips can help restaurants stay open. They boost worker pay without raising menu prices. This helps eateries keep costs down for customers.
Happy workers provide better service. Tipping leads to more satisfied staff. This can improve food quality and customer experience.
Restaurants that get tips on takeout may expand services. They might offer more takeout options or stay open later. Your tips can help your favorite spots grow and improve.
Arguments Against Tipping on Takeout
Some people think tipping on takeout orders isn’t necessary. They point to key differences in service and costs compared to dining in. Let’s look at the main reasons some argue against tipping for takeout meals.
Service Differences Between Dine-In and Takeout
When you eat at a restaurant, servers take your order, bring food, and check on you throughout the meal. With takeout, you often just pick up a bag at the counter. There’s less interaction and service involved.
Takeout also means you’re doing more work yourself. You drive to get the food, carry it home, and clean up after. Some feel this extra effort on their part reduces the need to tip.
The kitchen staff does the same work for takeout as dine-in. But without table service, some argue the overall labor is less for takeout orders.
Pricing Transparency Concerns
Menu prices should cover the restaurant’s costs, including fair worker pay. Adding a tip on top can feel like an extra, hidden charge.
Some worry tipping culture lets businesses underpay staff and push that cost to customers. They’d prefer restaurants just raise prices to pay workers fairly.
There’s also the question of who actually gets takeout tips. It’s not always clear if the money goes to the workers or the business owner.
Cultural Variations in Tipping
Tipping norms differ around the world. In some countries, it’s not expected for any service, including dining in.
People from non-tipping cultures may find U.S. tipping customs confusing. They might not know tipping is common for takeout too.
Even within the U.S., tipping habits vary by region. Rural areas often tip less than big cities. This can make takeout tipping feel optional to some.
As more global cuisines become popular, cultural clashes around tipping may increase. Some diners might skip the tip simply because it’s not part of their cultural practice.
Impact of Technology on Tipping
Digital payment systems and online ordering have changed how people tip for takeout. These technologies make tipping easier but also create new expectations.
Prevalence of Digital Payment Systems
Digital payment screens now show up at many takeout counters. These screens often suggest tip amounts, like 15%, 20%, or 25%. This makes tipping for takeout much more common.
You might feel pressure to tip when faced with these screens. Some places even suggest tips as high as 35% for simple orders.
The ease of tapping a tip option can lead to more frequent and higher tips. But it can also make you feel uncomfortable if you don’t want to tip for takeout.
Online Ordering and Its Effect on Tipping
When you order food online, you’ll usually see a tip option before checkout. This prompt appears before you’ve gotten your food or experienced any service.
Online tipping removes the face-to-face aspect of the transaction. You might feel less obligated to tip without direct interaction.
But some people tip more generously online to support local businesses and workers. The pandemic increased this trend as many wanted to help struggling restaurants.
Online ordering also lets you easily adjust tip amounts based on factors like order size or delivery distance.
Perspectives from Industry Professionals
Restaurant owners, managers, and staff have varying views on tipping for takeout orders. Their opinions often reflect their experiences and roles within the industry.
Restaurateurs and Managers
Many restaurant owners and managers support tipping on takeout orders. They point out that staff still put effort into preparing and packaging these meals. H.G. Parsa, a professor at the University of Denver, believes tipping on takeout is “the right thing to do.”
Some managers note that takeout orders require special attention. Staff must ensure accuracy, proper packaging, and timely preparation. This extra work, they argue, deserves recognition through tips.
Not all agree, though. Danny Meyer, founder of Shake Shack, thinks there’s no “obligation to tip” on takeout or quick coffee orders. His view highlights the ongoing debate within the industry.
Waitstaff and Takeout Coordinators
Front-line workers often have strong feelings about takeout tipping. Many rely on tips as a big part of their income. For them, takeout orders can be just as time-consuming as dine-in service.
Takeout coordinators may spend time:
- Taking orders by phone
- Packaging meals carefully
- Checking for accuracy
- Handling customer questions
Some staff members feel that a small tip, even 5-10%, shows appreciation for their efforts. Others understand why customers might not tip on takeout, especially if there’s no table service involved.
The debate continues, with staff opinions varying based on their specific roles and experiences in handling takeout orders.
Consumer Attitudes Towards Tipping
Tipping practices for takeout orders vary widely among customers. Many factors influence whether people choose to tip and how much. Service quality and economic considerations play key roles in shaping consumer behavior.
Customer Tipping Behaviors
Some customers tip generously on takeout orders to support local businesses and workers. The economic struggles of restaurants have led to more sympathy tipping. Others feel tipping isn’t necessary for takeout since there’s less service involved.
Tipping percentages have dropped slightly in recent years. For quick-service restaurants, the average tip was 15.9% last quarter, down from 16.4% the previous year. Inflation may be a factor in this decline.
Many customers tip 15-20% on takeout, similar to dine-in meals. But practices aren’t consistent. Some tip a smaller amount, like $1-2 per order. Others don’t tip at all for takeout.
Influence of Service Quality on Tips
The quality of takeout service can impact tipping decisions. Factors that may lead to higher tips include:
- Friendly, attentive staff
- Accurate orders
- Food packaged securely
- Timely preparation
- Easy pickup process
Poor experiences like long waits, mistakes, or rude service often result in lower tips. Some customers feel takeout involves less effort, so they tip less than for dine-in meals.
Your perception of service quality shapes your tipping choices. When staff go above and beyond, you may feel more inclined to leave a generous tip.
Economic Considerations
Money plays a big role in the takeout tipping debate. Wages and taxes affect both workers and customers. These factors shape opinions on whether tipping is needed for takeout orders.
Minimum Wage and Tipping Credits
Many restaurant workers rely on tips to earn a living wage. Some states allow a lower minimum wage for tipped workers. This “tip credit” assumes tips will make up the difference.
For takeout orders, it’s unclear if this applies. Kitchen staff often prepare these orders. They may not get tip shares like servers do.
Tipping on takeout can help support all restaurant workers. It may boost their pay above minimum wage levels. This is especially true in areas with high living costs.
Tips and Tax Implications
Tips count as income for tax purposes. This affects both workers and businesses.
For workers, takeout tips add to their taxable income. They must report these earnings. More tips can mean a higher tax bill, but also more take-home pay.
Businesses track tips for tax reasons too. They may owe payroll taxes on reported tips. Some places add automatic gratuities to large takeout orders. This ensures proper reporting and fair pay for staff efforts.
Customers can usually deduct business-related meal expenses, including tips. For personal takeout, tips are not tax-deductible.
Future of Tipping for Takeout
Tipping practices for takeout orders are changing. New payment systems and shifting customer views are reshaping how we think about gratuities for to-go meals.
Changing Norms and Expectations
You might notice more prompts to tip when picking up takeout orders. Digital payment systems often include tip options, even for counter service. This can make you feel pressured to add a gratuity.
Some restaurants now add service fees to takeout orders. These fees help cover rising costs and support worker wages. You may see this instead of a tip option at checkout.
Customer attitudes are shifting too. More people now tip on takeout, especially since the pandemic. You might feel it’s the right thing to do to support local businesses and workers.
Potential Alternatives to Tipping
Restaurants are trying new ways to pay workers fairly without relying on tips. Some places are testing “no-tip” models. They raise menu prices and pay staff higher hourly wages instead.
Another idea is service-included pricing. This builds the cost of service into item prices. You wouldn’t need to think about tipping at all.
Some apps let you add a small monthly fee to support restaurant workers. This could replace tipping on each order.
As the industry changes, you might see more creative solutions pop up. The goal is to make takeout ordering simpler and fairer for everyone.
Conclusion
Tipping on takeout orders remains a personal choice. You might consider a small tip of 5-10% for larger orders or exceptional service. Remember, restaurant staff often put effort into preparing and packaging your meal.
Every little bit helps support food service workers. If you’re unsure about tipping, trust your judgment based on the situation. For easy tip calculations, try using an online tip calculator tool.
Ultimately, showing appreciation for good service is always a kind gesture. Whether you decide to tip or not, being polite and saying thank you goes a long way. Your choice to tip on takeout can make a positive difference in someone’s day.